Where an offender's voluntary admissions to police provide the sole basis for prosecution of sexual offences against a very young child, the offender is entitled to a 'demonstrable discount' greater than that ordinarily given for a plea of guilty. A sentence that might be within range for a plea of guilty alone may be manifestly excessive where it fails to reflect this additional discount. The public policy rationale for encouraging admissions is of heightened importance where the victim is too young to give evidence.
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